the poor, and in two cases in 1701 varying their order, in one case by adding ten lashes on the bare back for having a white child, and thirty lashes, in the other, for hav ing a mulatto; so that the prosecutor should deem himself fortunate that the sessions, instead of diminishing his fine, had not enlivened the proceedings by inserting some of their old variations." Judge Vredenburgh was on the bench when the civil war broke out. He was a believer in the Republican party, and, of course, sup ported the war In Monmouth County there were many ardent Republicans, and some citi zens who favored secession. A few fiery patriots, who could not brook any deviation from the strict line of the duty which in their opinion was due to the government, resented some demonstrations in favor of the rebels, and proceeded to extremities which were not sanctioned by the law of the land They presumed on the known political pro clivities of the Judge, but they soon learned to their cost that he was rtot and would not be swerved from the discharge of his duty by any considerations. In his cool, quiet, but decided and forceful manner he charged the Grand Jury against these infractions of law, and soon taught the hot-headed patriots that they must obey the law of the land. For this wise and fearless action he was de nounced in unmeasured terms by some whose folly ran away with their wisdom; but calmer and soberer second thoughts convinced the thinking community that the Judge was right, and he soon stood higher than ever in the confidence and respect of the people When his second term expired he resumed the practice of law; but his health soon failed, and he was obliged to relinquish his business His son who bore his name, an able and courageous young officer, was killed during the war. This terrible loss added to the mal ady which seemed to be sapping his health. He sought a more genial climate, hoping for restoration, but in vain; he died at St. Augustine, Florida, in 1873. The Ryerson family has given to the State
many distinguished men whose lives have added lustre to the history of New Jersey. Of these no more honored name is to be found than that of Martin Ryerson. He was the son of Hon Thomas C. Ryerson, who has already been noticed The original an cestor, who settled on Long Island, was called Martin Ryertse, and the name Mar tin has been kept up since his time unin terruptedly by the family, who long since changed the name Ryertse to Ryerson. Martin Ryerson, who was an Associate Jus tice, was born at Hamburg, Sussex County, in 181 5 His mother was a daughter of Gov. Aaron Ogden, a hero of Revolutionarytimes, and he was her eldest son. He re ceived an excellent preparatory education, and being a very apt and diligent scholar was enabled to enter Princeton College at a very early age, from which institution he graduated in 1833. He became a student in the office of his father at Newton, but desiring a more extended opportunity of obtaining the knowledge of the practical part of the profes sion, he removed to Trenton, and became a student in the office of Garret D. Wall, a lead ing member of the bar in the State, and finally finished his studies in the office of Governor Pennington at Newark. He was licensed as an attorney in 1836, and as a counsellor in 1839. He at once opened an office in Newark, and although finding himself con fronted with some most formidable rivals, he was soon found in the foremost rank of advo cates, and secured a numerous and respect able body of clients He very soon, however, removed to Newton, in his native county, and there practised his profession with very great success. With the exception of a few years, he resided at Newton during the rest of his life; those few years while he was justice, he spent in Trenton In 1849 ne was elected to the lower house of the Legislature at a time when an election to that body was an honor, when men of character and talents were selected for the position. He found there Edward W Whelpley, who was afterward Chief-Justice, and who was Speaker of the
